Regulation
Regulatory Reforms Stalled in State House
Summary Gov. Josh Shapiro’s PAyback permit rebate program is a step forward. But alone, it is insufficient to fix Pennsylvania’s above-average regulatory burden. The governor says he wants to…
Read More: Regulatory Reforms Stalled in State HousePennsylvania’s notoriously high level of regulation is a burden on our state economy. To make the Keystone State a competitive place to live, work, or grow a business, reforms are needed to rein in the regulatory process. Taxpayers deserve a streamlined regulatory process that scrutinizes proposed regulations to ensure frivolous reforms do not overburden the state economy and do not prevent job-seekers from accessing employment.
Regulation
Cities start adding up retiree benefit costs
An article from the Pittsburgh Business Times on the coming government retiree benefits crisis. Governments at all levels are only beginning to understand how big of a financial crisis…
Media
Read More: Cities start adding up retiree benefit costsRegulation
When Social Security looks fiscally responsible
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Editorial on the coming pension crisis. What continues to amaze us is the feedback from un-informed and mis-informed union members who are saying that we (the Commonwealth…
Media
Read More: When Social Security looks fiscally responsibleRegulation
The Laws of Economics are Sovereign, Even in Pennsylvania
It’s a shame that King Canute never ran for office in Pennsylvania. King Canute was the mighty English ruler who, tired of the ceaseless flattery of his advisors, had them…
Commentary
Read More: The Laws of Economics are Sovereign, Even in PennsylvaniaRegulation
Repealed, but not removed
WGAL’s Ben Simoneau highlights how the “unvouchered expense” payments will impact taxpayers for years via pension increases for lawmakers. What Simoneau didn’t cover (not that I expected him…
Media
Read More: Repealed, but not removedPublic Union Democracy
Gettin’ out while the gettin’s good
The Hempfield Area School District is expecting nearly 90 employees (mostly teachers) to retire this year, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. This is a district where the average salary…
Media
Read More: Gettin’ out while the gettin’s goodRegulation
Pennsylvania Pensions: Man-Made Financial Disasters
The “Process Improvement Theory” relates to the timing in a process when errors are diagnosed and fixed. As the theory goes, at each ensuing interval in which a problem is…
Commentary
Read More: Pennsylvania Pensions: Man-Made Financial DisastersRegulation
State employees’ pensions might carry big price tag
“Might”? Whoever wrote the headline for this Patriot-News story on the looming pension crisis should have read the story. Even the plan administrators at PSERS and SERS don’t see…
Media
Read More: State employees’ pensions might carry big price tagRegulation
Capitolwire.com thoughts on AFSCME’s reponse to the pension study
No problem with state pensions …that’s what David R. Fillman, Executive Director, Council 13, The American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), said in a news…
Media
Read More: Capitolwire.com thoughts on AFSCME’s reponse to the pension studyRegulation
Pay no attention to the coming crisis.
In an Alfred E Neuman-esque “What, me worry?” Council 13 of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees claims there is no future pension problem in Pennsylvania. “…
Media
Read More: Pay no attention to the coming crisis.Regulation
EDITORIAL | Pension padding
“Getting elected to the state’s freewheeling Legislature isn’t nearly as sweet as leaving the public body after several terms.” Read more from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Media
Read More: EDITORIAL | Pension paddingRegulation
Raw Deal for the People of Pennsylvania
More coverage of our pension study in the Beaver County Times/Allegheny Times.
Media
Read More: Raw Deal for the People of PennsylvaniaRegulation
The Real War on Wal-Mart is to Expand Government
Brendan Miniter in today’s Wall Street Journal… “Let’s first understand that the drive to enact anti-Wal-Mart legislation has very little to do with the retail giant except in two…
Media
Read More: The Real War on Wal-Mart is to Expand GovernmentRegulation
Pension scandal could rival pay-jacking
The Mercury – News on our pension study.
Media
Read More: Pension scandal could rival pay-jackingRegulation
The Pay Raise and Pension Link
Herald Standard story by Alison Hawkes on how “unvouchered expenses” are going to boost pensions for those lawmakers who took the unconstitutional money.
Media
Read More: The Pay Raise and Pension LinkRegulation
Pension sticker shock about to hit
This Morning Call article by Christina Gostomski begins by looking at how PA’s archaic pension system is going to impact our property taxes.
Media
Read More: Pension sticker shock about to hitRegulation
Think tank sees trouble for Pa. pension funds
From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette……
Media
Read More: Think tank sees trouble for Pa. pension fundsRegulation
Exploding pensions hurting taxpayers, new report claims
Lancaster New Era on our latest report……
Media
Read More: Exploding pensions hurting taxpayers, new report claimsRegulation
Beneath the Surface: Pennsylvania’s Looming Pension and Healthcare Benefits Crisis
Pennsylvania government employee-benefit plans operate in a vacuum. In a world where private-sector benefit cutbacks and cost reductions occur on a daily basis, state government in Harrisburg has not responded…
Report
Read More: Beneath the Surface: Pennsylvania’s Looming Pension and Healthcare Benefits CrisisRegulation
Retire the current retirement system
This Daily Item editorial gets it almost exactly right. While the conclusions are accurate that it will be the taxpayers who take it on the chin, the blame is…
Media
Read More: Retire the current retirement systemRegulation
Officials differ on slots’ economic impact
Gambling in PA: Economic Development or Political Handout? Although that is not the gist of this Herald Standard story, it is the point I try to make at the…
Media
Read More: Officials differ on slots’ economic impactRegulation
The War goes on with no end in sight
The war on Wal-Mart, that is. Now Wal-Mart is under orders from Massachusetts to sell “morning-after” pills. It seems that in not stocking the notorious morning-after pill, Wal-Mart was…
Media
Read More: The War goes on with no end in sight